Bermuda - Newport, RI:    639 miles

Total:                             A long way! (1580 including 56 night hours apiece)

 

After our last night watch of the passage and Cap'n Pete and your humble diarist's warming game of guess the song on Petes I-pod (I challenge anyone to name 80's pop followed by classical, then jazz & Atomic Kitten) we started to see a few lonely lobster pots through the misty gloom and knew we were approaching Newport.

 

Mel fortified our resolve with mean bacon sandwiches and it was all hands on deck to ensure we crossed the shipping lanes safely (See Mick on lookout in  picture below). The i-spy games suddenly became a lot more interesting after options widened from Sun, Sky, Sea & Sails!  Fort Adams dominated the landscape(!) and the entrance to Newport for a good couple of hours as we motored through the still, freezing fog.  It was essential throughout the morning that the Skipper took up his station at the Radar screen.  Up on deck his crew thought the boat was juddering but quickly realised they were just shivering friom the cold.  Suddenly there were plenty of volunteers to go below and make a brew!  There was brief talk of mutiny when the crew realised that the radar screen could be seen on the deck navigational aids - but this quickly abated when we realised we wouldn't be able to moor the boat!

 

Arriving at Newport Shipyard we have tried to restore our emaciated forms with some good wholesome Samuel Adams alongside plenty of Surf & Turf.  The Red Parrot furnished us with fare on our first wobbly night on solid ground stateside reecommended by Cap'n Pete's guide book and the chef of a nearby restaurant.  It served its purpose and kept Mel out of the galley.

 

First morning in Newport Shipyard saw the crew up not so bright and not so early but the Cap'n soon had everyone scrubbing the decks and restoring matchmaker to her shining glory of Antigua all those miles ago.  Halfway through we needed refreshments and Mother Mel surpassed expectation with his sandwiches and we kicked back with a couple of cold ones whilst waving royally to the Yanks fishing from Goat Island bridge.  An hour later we were all back to work until Jon could use any bit of chrome for his weekly shave.

 

After that the crew headed to Thames Street past America's Cup Avenue and window shopped at the Blackpoolesque tack shops.  Fortunately for Jon these were interspersed with the likes of Helly Hansen and he was able to add to his considerable Newport Shipyard tee shirt collection with one of Helly's finest.  Jon and your guest blogmaster then slipped down to the waterside for a refresher and Mick and Mel lurked up behind and added to their order.  Cap'n Pete was back on board ensuring Matchmaker would earn the Newport Shiniest Ship competition.

 

Dinner Newport night two was in dockside drinking/eating/dancing/drinking establishment H2O (and is thoroughly recommended by all aboard Matchmaker).  The Chowder Club convened (Cap'n Pete, Chris & new member Mick) and decided that Bermuda still held the Chowder Crown - chilli sherry and rum as condiments really do take some beating.   Jon, Mick & Bluto all had the local Lobster with the First Mate enthusiastically crushing claws.  Your esteemed blogster was continually complimented on his pink polo and light red slacks by all and sundry although the some of the less sartorially aware patrons of Newport thought it might have been for a cruel wager of some kind.  Once the "young oldies" had headed back to Matchmaker to check she was shining in the moonlight (and a cheeky nightcap), J & C wandered up and down Thames Street looking for a suitable establishment for them to grace with their prescence.  O'Briens was deemed not exclusive enough (there was a queue) and the Pelham asked for ID (but wouldn't accept grey hair and whiskers) so they finally settled on a place with no name (they didn't look but there was Women's College Softball on the TV).  After cutting some rug, and using their plummiest accents to order beers at the bar (I'm from London, England), sleep was a little heavier than usual.

 

Breakfast Sunday morning was at Belle's in Newport Shipyard and consisted of omlettes & homefries and pancakes with maple syrup & bacon.  Cap'n Pete was tasked, by the First Mate, to "hire the biggest truck they've got" so Team Matchmaker could explore the local area (and go somewhere other than Thames Street, Newport).  A trip that no fair maiden would consider "Let's go over that massive bridge and then come back" saw us through the afternoon and we even managed a quick trip on the state highway to Wickford where the crew stopped for a quick drink (and had three burgers, a gyro and fish and chips and another Chowder Club meeting - still Bermuda).  All back to Matchmaker for Cinema Night - "Master & Commander" and a well earned rest.

 

 

Highlights in Short:

Lowlights:

Morale.

 

On a long cruise such as Antigua-Bermuda-Newport good morale is something that is crucial to success.  Cups of tea and chocolate biscuits can only help so far and it is essential that all crew are mindful of the effect of morale on each other.  Cold nights certainly can lower morale (luckily we only had one or two) but nothing so much can wreck a sailors disposition as a lack of wind (despite making our own on board we did have to motor a couple of days).  All crew from the last passage should be commended on bonding well throughout their well organised, if not immediately understandable, watch system.  Everyone pitched in and banter was forthcoming from all quarters, and Mick and Mel's "Library of Death and near Death Experiences" continued to entertain the younger crew and captain.  A special mention has to go to Mel who has promised to cook one meal a week upon his return to Bruges after his family individually sent through their daily "Have you cooked a meal yet?  Hahahahaha!" emails.  Everyone pulled their weight (some had more to pull than others); Mother Watches were taken on with pride and Matchmakers effect on the population of Mahi Mahi in the North Atlantic continued to lift spirits.

 

Thanks to Cap'n Pete.  - Great Cruise.

 

Matchmaker and the crew.

 

Until the next time... Matchmaker Out!